Saturday 2008 versus Friday 2014 (pre-fest)

The replacements -> the Knife -> Outkast has the potential to be the greatest night in coachella history. Time will tell but I would like to see if people expect it to be better than 2008's 3 headed monster of kraftwerk -> Portishead -> Prince. I will do another poll after the fest so we can compare expectations to reality.

Re: Saturday 2008 versus Friday 2014 (pre-fest)

I do believe, with Jon Spencer, Goat, Knife, Bryan Ferry, Afghan Whigs, Outkast, and the Replacements, and many other fine undercard acts that depending on how they schedule...Friday '14 does have a chance of being the best overall day in Fest history...it's easily one of the fest's most impressive days on paper.

But from the standpoint of just the three final mainstage acts...

I'll bet near even money that Outkast could floor and match Prince, but even though the Replacements are my top see for the entire weekend, I don't expect them to match what Prince/Portishead brought live in '08, then there's the Knife, which I know many here love and I do like, but just don't belong in any serious musical conversation with the other five acts...they may get there someday, but right now other than maybe giving Portishead a challenge their body of work is light years less substantial, and if Fever Ray's '10 show is any barometer as to what we can expect with the Knife, then my expectations for their Friday set drop farther.

So I gotta go with Saturday '08

As far as main stage final run magic this year, I actually think Sunday night this year...with potentially Motorhead > NMH > Beck > Arcade Fire has a better chance of matching Saturday '08. I think the key will be when set times come out...If Arcade Fire are just slotted in for a 90 minute/hour-forty-five closing set...then I think it's safe to say it will just be them punching through their hits...but if that set is given a larger than expected amount of time 2 - 2 & 1/2 - 3 hours...there are probably some surprises in store. I gotta think, after their awesome '11 set with those Beach Balls, there have been conversations between the band and Tollett on how to top. I haven't heard any rumors...just going off a personal hunch.